10 March 2017: The past few weeks were marked by significant developments in the areas of resilience and adaptation planning, including the adoption of a landmark regional disaster risk reduction (DRR) plan for the Americas, the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) Expert Group (LEG) national adaptation plans (NAPs) workshop for Anglophone Africa, and Kenya’s submission to the UNFCCC Secretariat of its NAP.

The present Update focuses on these and other adaptation and loss and damage-related activities of the recent weeks, paying particular attention to the work undertaken by the UNFCCC Secretariat and constituted bodies in preparation for the Bonn Climate Change Conference. These developments contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13 (climate action).

With fewer than two months to go before the Bonn Climate Change Conference that is slated to take place in Bonn, Germany, from 8-18 May 2017, the UNFCCC Secretariat has begun publishing relevant documents. The Adaptation Committee (AC) and the LEG advanced work under their respective mandates.

The AC held its eleventh meeting (AC11) in Bonn, Germany, from 7-10 March 2017, during which participants addressed, among other issues, support of the implementation of the Paris outcomes, including through: review of adaptation-related institutional arrangements under the Convention in 2017; methodologies for assessing adaptation needs with a view to assisting developing countries, without placing an undue burden on them; modalities to recognize the adaptation efforts of developing countries; and methodologies to facilitate the mobilization of support for adaptation in developing countries, and for reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of adaptation and support. AC11 also considered: work of the AC’s working group on the Technical Examination Process on Adaptation (TEP-A); technical support and guidance to Parties on adaptation action and means of implementation (MOI); and awareness-raising, outreach and sharing of information. [AC11 Webpage] [AC11 Provisional Annotated Agenda] [Adaptation Workshops and Meetings Webpage] [Decision 1/CP.21 Adopting the Paris Agreement]

At its 31st meeting, the LEG developed its two-year rolling work programme for 2017-2018, inspired by its vision of supporting the LDCs in producing quality NAPs by 2018 or 2020, at the latest.

The 31st meeting of the LEG took place in Bonn, Germany, from 7-10 March 2017, during which the LEG developed its two-year rolling work programme for 2017-2018, inspired by its vision of supporting the LDCs in producing quality NAPs by 2018 or 2020, at the latest. Participants also discussed, inter alia: modalities of accessing the Green Climate Fund (GCF) for NAP formulation; support of the Global Environment Facility (GEF)-managed LDC Fund (LDCF) for the ongoing implementation of National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPAs); and ways for the LEG to support the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) in the assessment of progress on NAPs. A report of the meeting will be published in April 2017.

Other developments on NAPs included Kenya’s submission of its NAP to the UNFCCC Secretariat and the publication of a blogpost on the role of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and NAPs in advancing climate-resilient development.

WeADAPT published a blogpost titled ‘Using NDCs and NAPs to Advance Climate-Resilient Development’ based on a presentation originally made by the NAP Global Network Secretariat, hosted by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), on 13 November 2016, during the Development and Climate Days in Marrakech, Morocco. [Using NDCs and NAPs to Advance Climate-Resilient Development Blogpost]

In preparation for the Bonn Climate Change Conference, the UNFCCC Secretariat issued a synthesis paper, titled ‘Human health and adaptation: understanding climate impacts on health and opportunities for action’ (FCCC/SBSTA/2017/2), based on the information submitted by Parties and organizations, as well as on inputs from participants during and after the tenth Focal Point Forum on health and adaptation. [Human Health and Adaptation: Understanding Climate Impacts on Health and Opportunities for Action]

Europe Fosters Adaptation in Cities, Alpine Area

The Advisory Committee on the Alpine Climate (Alpine Climate Board (ACB)) of the Alpine Convention convened for its constituting meeting in Vienna, Austria, from 22-23 February 2017. The ACB consists of experts from national administrations and observer organizations, and, over the next two years, will define common adaptation and mitigation actions to achieve a resilient and climate-neutral Alpine area by 2050. The ACB was set up by the 14th Alpine Conference in October 2016. [Alpine Convention Press Release] [Climate-ADAPT Press Release]

The European Environment Agency (EEA) issued a report titled ‘Financing urban adaptation to climate change,’ outlining innovative ways pioneered by some municipalities to overcome the challenge of meeting the costs of adaptation measures. The report discusses lessons learned from the most successful approaches, the difficulties encountered and overcome, and success factors in financing local adaptation action. [Financing Urban Adaptation to Climate Change] [EEA Press Release] [Climate-ADAPT Press Release]

Must Reads

A number of recent publications address adaptation in the agricultural sector:

‘Do markets and trade help or hurt the global food system adapt to climate change?’ by a group of researchers from US universities, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), US, and the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Climate Science and Applications Program, US. [Publication Landing Page] [CGIAR Press Release]

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